UL signs agreement of understanding with JNU

University of Limerick has signed an agreement of understanding with Indian university Jawaharlal Nehru University as part of the largest Irish education mission to India to date.

Academics and staff from University of Limerick were among a delegation of 20 Irish Higher Education Institutions that engaged with 2,000 Indian students during the Education in Ireland Fairs organised by Enterprise Ireland in Chennai; Bangalore; Kochi; New Delhi and Pune in February.

Speaking prior to her departure Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, Minister of State for Higher Education, said; “This mission is part of the Department of Education and Skills’ plan to substantially increase the numbers of international students studying in our higher education institutions, by 33%, from 33,000 to 44,000 by 2020”.

In New Delhi, Minister Mitchell O’Connor witnessed the signing of the agreement of understanding by representatives of UL and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The signing is the latest development in the relationship between the two universities, which is focussed on growing research collaboration, the exchange of faculty, researchers and students and joint cultural programmes.

The agreement is a stepping stone towards a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions. Like UL, JNU is a young institution, founded in 1976 and is today ranked at 11th place in India, 96th Asia University Rankings 2015 and 71st BRICS & Emerging Economies Rankings 2015 (UL was ranked in the 101-150th Young University Rankings 2017 and in the 501–600th World University Rankings 2018).

Giles O’Neill, Head of Education in Ireland at Enterprise Ireland said; “India is now the fastest growing education market for Irish higher education institutions. Latest figures from Enterprise Ireland show a 90% growth in exports from the Irish education sector to India since 2013. In 2017, Higher Education Institutions saw a rise of 25% in the level of interest from Indian students wishing to study in Ireland. Based on the positive response and levels of interest we have seen from across India on this Education in Ireland mission, we expect to see similar growth in the next academic cycle. This is as a result of the commitment and resource dedicated to India by our international offices and academics in Irish higher education institutions. Most importantly, it is down to the experience those Indian students experience whilst in Ireland – a world class education, a tremendous life experience and something that prepares them well for their own international careers”.